Mihaljević is a Croatian patronymic surname, meaning "son of Mihael". Mimamihael is the Slavic form of Michael, which derives from the Hebrew rhetorical question Miḵaʾel — "Who is like God?" — emphasizing that no being rivals God.
Etymology and Origin
The suffix -jević is a common Slavic patronymic marker, particularly in South Slavic languages, meaning "son of." Thus, Mihaljević literally means "son of Mihael." Mihael itself is the Croatian and Slovene variant of Michael, a name borne by one of the seven archangels in Abrahamic tradition and the only one explicitly called an archangel in the Bible (Jude 1:9).
Notable Bearers
- Amy Mihaljević (1978–1989), an American murder victim whose case remains infamous.
- Branko Mihaljević (1931–2005), a Croatian composer and journalist.
- Filip Mihaljević (born 1994), a Croatian discus thrower and shot putter.
- Filip Mihaljević (footballer, born 1992), a Croatian forward.
- Filip Mihaljević (footballer, born 2000), a Croatian midfielder.
- George Mihaljević (born 1936), a Croatian-American soccer player and coach.
- Igor Mihaljević (born 1979), a Croatian heavyweight kickboxer.
- Joe Mihaljevic (born 1960), an American retired soccer forward.
- Mihailo Mihaljević (1748–1794), an Austrian colonel who led the Serbian Free Corps during the Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791).
- Radoslav Mihaljević (1426–1436), a Serbian magnate active during the medieval period.
Cultural Significance
In Croatian naming tradition, surnames ending in -vić are widespread, indicating lineage. The personal name Mihael (Stephen) is less common than its English counterpart Michael but remains in use across Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia. The surname reflects the historical influence of Christianity in the region and the veneration of the Archangel Michael, the patron saint who soldiers in Christianity.
The name’s geographical distribution centers in Croatia and could be found among the Croatian diaspora. It belongs to the widespread European phenomenon of patronymic surnames derived from given names of biblical origin, particularly those of archangels recognized in Judeo-Christian tradition.
- Meaning: "Son of Mihael" (Michael)
- Origin: Croatian
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage Regions: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Roots
Other Languages & Cultures
Sources: Wikipedia — Mihaljević